Simpsons’ Showrunner Would Be ‘Shocked’ If Universal Lost The Theme Park Rights, But There’s One Thing I’m Afraid He’s Not Considering

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Theme parks constantly evolve to stay popular. They need fresh attractions to draw in new visitors and encourage repeat customers. While updates often involve replacing older, less popular rides with ones based on current franchises, a significant change can also happen when companies merge.

Although Disney now owns the rights to *The Simpsons*, dedicated Simpsons Lands currently operate at both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort. This has led to speculation that Universal might eventually close these lands and Disney could open its own Simpsons-themed areas in its parks. However, the current executive producer of *The Simpsons* hopes the Universal lands remain open.

Simpsons Showrunner Doesn’t Want To See Theme Park Land Leave Universal

Matt Selman, a showrunner for *The Simpsons* since the late 1990s and a key contributor to The Simpsons Ride, recently told EW that he’d be very surprised if the show’s attractions were removed from Universal Parks, though he doesn’t have any inside knowledge about future plans. He added…

As a fan, I’d be very surprised if The Simpsons ride didn’t stay at Universal. I don’t have any special knowledge about this – I’m just speculating. This isn’t an official confirmation, and I’m not involved in any discussions about it.

Selmen rightly points out that *The Simpsons* remains hugely popular at the parks. The ride consistently draws long lines, and the park sells an enormous number of the show’s famous donuts daily. He also notes that the Simpsons land at Universal Studios Hollywood is in a prime location – right next to the popular Studio Tour and the Starway escalator – making it very difficult to close down without causing major logistical problems. He went on to explain…

Just imagine what it would take – they’d have to completely close down that section for around two years to build something new, right in the heart of Universal Studios. I recently visited, and they’re already building a huge Fast & Furious outdoor rollercoaster in that exact spot. Plus, they just finished the Mario area! It would be incredibly damaging to their business.

Selman has a point. If Universal were to remove *The Simpsons* land, it would be a significant loss, and likely something the company wants to avoid. Universal Destinations & Experiences probably hopes to keep the area for many years to come, but they might not have the final say.

Universal’s Deal For The Simpsons Is Likely Coming Due

Disney and Universal have a curious situation with *The Simpsons* and Marvel. Before Disney acquired both brands, they had already made agreements allowing Universal to use these properties in their theme parks. This means Disney currently has limited ability to feature *The Simpsons* or Marvel characters in their own parks.

The agreement between Universal and Marvel is straightforward and has no set expiration date. As long as Universal continues to feature Marvel characters and maintain the related attractions at Universal Orlando Resort, they can keep using those characters.

Details about the agreement between Universal and *The Simpsons* aren’t widely publicized, but it’s generally understood that Universal and Fox made a 20-year deal in 2008. This means the current agreement is set to expire in 2028, and it’s currently unknown if it can be renewed.

Universal May Not Have Much Choice If Disney Wants The Simpsons

The agreement between Universal and *The Simpsons* might eventually expire. Even if Universal wants to renew it, that might not be possible. If Disney decides to reclaim ownership of the show, they may have the power to do so, and that could be the final outcome.

Late in 2024, Disney Parks surveyed guests to get their thoughts on potential new attractions, including the possibility of bringing characters and themes from *The Simpsons* to the parks. Disney often uses these surveys to explore new ideas, so it seems they’re seriously considering adding *The Simpsons* to their offerings.

We don’t yet know how popular a Simpsons-themed area would be at Disney Parks. If demand seems low, Disney might prefer to renew its deal with Universal regarding the rights to *The Simpsons*. This would allow Disney to earn money with minimal effort, which could be more appealing than investing in new attractions at its own parks.

Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland are undergoing significant construction and expansions. This raises the question of whether *The Simpsons* might eventually move to Disney parks, or if Disney will choose to leave the franchise where it is at Universal. Only time will tell what Disney decides.

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2025-10-06 20:09